VI
EN
The island of Île-de-Ré (or Rhea) is located off the west coast of France near La Rochelle. It is known for its gently sloping sandy beaches, cool waters, and mild breezes, making it ideal for relaxing holidays with family and friends.
An image of Poitou the donkey wearing trousers on an old postcard.
On Rhea Island, visitors can encounter large, shaggy-haired donkeys with sleepy eyes. Interestingly, the locals dress them in striped blue trousers, resembling pajamas. These Poitou donkeys are known to have lived alongside the local people for a very long time.
Poitou donkeys are considered one of the largest and most productive working donkey breeds in the world. They are significantly larger than average donkeys. The most distinctive feature of the Poitou donkey is its shaggy coat, known as cadanette, which is braided into long pigtails.
Around 1900, the inhabitants of Rhea Island imported this breed of donkey to transport salt from the salt fields of Charente Maritime to warehouses. Every day when they went to the fields, they dressed the Poitou donkeys in long trousers to protect them from insect attacks.
Poitou the donkey wears pants to protect against insects.
The donkey wearing trousers has become a distinctive feature of the Rhea Islands.
Tourists enjoyed seeing the donkey wearing pants.
Their trousers are made of curtain fabric, featuring an old-fashioned Vichy pattern in grey or red stripes. They have become an integral part of the community in Île de Ré and accompany the daily lives of its residents. Over time, these donkeys have become famous as "Anes en Culotte" or "donkeys wearing underwear".
Nowadays, donkeys on Île-de-Ré are no longer used in the salt fields. Therefore, some of them don't wear pants. However, most locals still maintain this tradition and dress their donkeys in pants. This practice also helps make the island more attractive to tourists.
Poitou donkeys are stronger and larger than regular donkeys.
Poitou the donkey's fur is long and shaggy.
The Poitou donkey was once the most sought-after donkey throughout Europe. Until the mid-20th century, up to 30,000 donkeys were bred annually in the Poitou region and exported worldwide. During World War II, the demand for donkeys decreased and the market collapsed due to the advent of machinery. The populations of both mules and donkeys declined significantly. By 1977, only 44 Poitou donkeys remained worldwide. Thanks to conservation efforts in the late 20th century, there are now over 450 Poitou donkeys in the world as of 2005.
